Date of Birth: August 7, 1928
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Date of Death: October 20, 2020
Biography
James Randi, born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge, was a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known for his challenges to paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Born on August 7, 1928, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Randi began his career as a magician and escapologist, often being compared to Harry Houdini. He gained fame under his stage name, “The Amazing Randi.” In the 1970s, Randi transitioned from magic to investigating and debunking paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, becoming a leading figure in the skeptical movement. He co-founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and later established the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) in 1996, which offered a million-dollar prize to anyone who could demonstrate paranormal abilities under controlled conditions. Throughout his career, Randi authored several books, including “Flim-Flam!” and “The Truth About Uri Geller,” where he exposed various frauds and hoaxes. His work earned him numerous awards, including a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant in 1986. Randi remained active in the skeptical community until his passing on October 20, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
5 Interesting Facts about James Randi
1. James Randi was once buried alive for 55 minutes as part of an escape act, which was inspired by Harry Houdini.
2. In 1986, he received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, commonly known as the “Genius Grant.”
3. Randi was openly gay and came out publicly in 2010 at the age of 81.
4. He exposed the fraudulent practices of televangelist Peter Popoff, who claimed to have divine knowledge but was using a hidden earpiece.
5. The James Randi Educational Foundation’s million-dollar challenge remained unclaimed until it was officially terminated in 2015.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from James Randi
1. “No amount of belief makes something a fact.”
2. “Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason.”
3. “The New Age? It’s just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds.”
4. “I don’t expect that the million dollars will ever be won, simply because there is no confirming evidence for any paranormal claims to date.”
5. “If you believe in the power of prayer, you are forgetting it was invented by the same people who said thunder was caused by a clapping giant.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by James Randi was estimated to be around $1.5 million.
Children
James Randi did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [James Randi Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi
2. [James Randi Educational Foundation](https://web.randi.org/
3. [James Randi on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0708514/
4. [Biography on The Skeptics Society](https://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-09-22/
